Writing Analysis // Graphic Design Discourse Community Contributions
There are two types of graphic designers: professional and laypeople. This study analyzes the difference between the two groups when considering data visualizations. Consider the abstract below.
Abstract: Data visualizations come in many different forms. In this study we investigated how professionals and laypeople in graphic design rate the attractiveness and clarity of data visualizations differing in construction type (standard or non-standard) and mode of expression (pictorial or abstract). Results showed that graphic designers rate the attractiveness of non-standard and pictorial visualizations higher than standard and abstract ones, whereas the opposite is true for laypeople. As for clarity, both groups prefer standard and abstract visualizations, which is reflected in lower response times. Results also showed that overall graphic designers' evaluations are lower than the evaluations of laypeople. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Here are some of the considerations when contrasting differences between professionals and laypeople:
- Benefits of design research
- Visualizing quantitative information
- Design choices and esthetic preferences
Benefits of design research
The design community over the years has not been able to document the way designers visualize. Design tends to be driven by intuition and experience, rather than knowledge for the layperson. Most of the experience lies internally and is not documented for review. The professional designer has exposure to theory and standards. The approach differs from the beginning with planning and review. In contrast, the layperson experiences more trial and error.
Visualizing quantitative information
Design choices and preferences seem to differ within the two communities of designers. The professional designer tends to focus more on visual appeal and first impressions. The layperson tends to focus their design preference on visual clarity. Both data sets represent the same quantitative data; however, each representation differs based on personal preference of approach for presentation. Both groups understand the objective and each design presentation displays the data sets requested.
Design choices and esthetic preferences
Analyzing data for projects conducted by professionals vs. laypeople produced some interesting results. The first category was for standard design vs. non-standard. Laypeople tended to lean towards standard design and professionals were able to maintain a comfort level with non-standard design. Laypeople tended to be more comfortable with pictorial design and professionals were able to remain comfortable with abstract design.
Both groups possessed the ability to create and design. A number of studies provided data to analyze to understand some of the differences between professional and laypeople. These projects focused exclusively on design creating projects that had an emphasis on displaying data sets in a visual deliverable.
The design community over the years has not been able to document the way designers visualize. Design tends to be driven by intuition and experience, rather than knowledge for the layperson. Most of the experience lies internally and is not documented for review. The professional designer has exposure to theory and standards. The approach differs from the beginning with planning and review. In contrast, the layperson experiences more trial and error.
Visualizing quantitative information
Design choices and preferences seem to differ within the two communities of designers. The professional designer tends to focus more on visual appeal and first impressions. The layperson tends to focus their design preference on visual clarity. Both data sets represent the same quantitative data; however, each representation differs based on personal preference of approach for presentation. Both groups understand the objective and each design presentation displays the data sets requested.
Design choices and esthetic preferences
Analyzing data for projects conducted by professionals vs. laypeople produced some interesting results. The first category was for standard design vs. non-standard. Laypeople tended to lean towards standard design and professionals were able to maintain a comfort level with non-standard design. Laypeople tended to be more comfortable with pictorial design and professionals were able to remain comfortable with abstract design.
Both groups possessed the ability to create and design. A number of studies provided data to analyze to understand some of the differences between professional and laypeople. These projects focused exclusively on design creating projects that had an emphasis on displaying data sets in a visual deliverable.
Graphic design tends to be more visual in nature, and yet over 46 designers have set on a charter to become well-read in their field and share these thoughts with fellow designers. They review and decide which books will fuel their artistic fire. Interesting choice of words. Adding structure to their understanding is the benefit of reviewing a library of books on design from their peers in their own discourse community of professionals.